One Week of Group Classes – THE PLAN

Hi friends!  I’m trying something new this week to shake up the semi-funk I’ve been in lately with my workouts.  I only worked out once last week because I felt too busy with all the commitments going on.  Some weeks are like that, but they leave me feeling icky.  And, as y’all know, when we workout, our eating is typically better.  We don’t workout so hard during the week, just to “blow it.” So, this week, I’m doing a week (Monday – Friday) of group workouts.  I feel like I need the boost of energy and support you get when working out in a group.  There’s a commitment because it starts and stops at a specific time and you do get a great workout.  Once the class gets started, it’s rare that someone leaves without completing that class. 
I printed out the schedule and class descriptions of group exercise classes at my gym and found they typically have three options for the time of day I like to go (in the morning right after dropping my son off at school).  This works perfect for me, I just get up, get dressed/eat my protein pancake/get my son fed and ready for school and we’re off.  No hair, makeup, or coffee (I prefer to linger with that after I get home and showered).  When I get home, I know my day is off to a great start because I got my workout out of the way! 
I chose a variety of classes so that I can experience different types of exercise and instructors.  If I really like one, I’ll consider committing to that class for a longer period.  On Tuesdays, I’m sticking to our school running club, which is just a few women that run the 3-mile track at our local park right after drop off.  
Here’s my schedule of GROUP CLASSES for this week with the class description below:

Monday- Yoga Body (8:30 – 9:30) YOGA
A well-rounded hatha yoga practice that will lightly warm you up and stretch you out while beginning to train your body for more advanced work.  Most appropriate for those who have prior yoga experience and are physically fit.  

I’ve never tried yoga (well, once, over ten years ago), so we’ll see about this.  There was no other “beginner” yoga class offered at my timeframe.  I’ve have a couple of very close girlfriends who rave about yoga, and I’m eager to try it for the mind/body connection.  Any advice for this first-timer? 

TuesdayRunning Club (8:15 – 9:00) CARDIO
Run/walk intervals for 3 miles outside. 

We’ve increased our stamina lately, so we’re running more, walking less. This is great because we are done quickly and I can get on with the rest of my day sooner. 

WednesdayCutting EDGE (8:30 – 9:30) STRENGTH
A more refined format including traditional weigh training combined with timed cardio intervals consisting of basic, athletic movements specifically designed to enhance the strength portion of the workout experience.

I definitely want to keep my strength up and my muscles toned, so I’m excited about this class.  I bet it will be hard- timed cardio intervals always are, especially if you push yourself. 

ThursdayCycle Tech (8:30 – 9:15) CYCLE
An indoor cycling class designed to prepare you for race day; some of the techniques, specific ride profiles and drills are those used by competitive cyclists. 

I’ve met the instructor who teaches this class and I think he’s a pretty hard-core cyclist.  I’m interested to see how his teaching technique is.  I hope the music is good!

FridayMuscles (8:30 – 9:30) STRENGTH
A muscle conditioning class for all levels, using various resistance equipment to build strength resulting in a total body weight workout. 

My friends say the instructor who teaches this class is the best, and I can’t wait to see for myself!

Hitting “publish” on this post and sharing this goal with you will keep me accountable to completing all these classes.   As far as my diet goes, my goal is simple- don’t eat any sweets (ice cream, cookies, brownies, etc.) and drink lots of water- 55 ounces a day (about half my body weight in ounces).  
I will report back and let you know the classes went and whether I plan to stick with it.  
Will you commit to a joining a group class with me this week?

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

8 Comments

  1. Group classes definitely help me stay on track, but having a buddy to go to the group class with you is even better 🙂 Good luck with it and can't wait to hear more about it. I used to do the cycling at the 24Hr on Richmond and it was brutal, but it whipped my legs into awesome shape.
    Linh
    http://abeautifulrawr.com

  2. Hatha is amazing — especially as you cross train in different workout types. It will be great for you to get the stretching strength in from hatha as you run harder and lift weights. Go get 'em!

  3. I do the same thing – if I am in a funk I start going back to group classes and vise versa. Stick with the yoga! I have done it for about 6 years and I swear, I don't feel like I really started reaping the benefits until the last couple of years when I really let myself get into it. Now I call my once-a-week wont-miss yoga class my therapy!

  4. Hi! New here, just found the blog. I find the meal prep section hugely helpful! Just diagnosed with Celiac and trying to heal after two years of being ill. Can't believe I used to run 1/2 marathons and now am barely getting through the day. I'm getting inspired to get up an extra 30 minutes and just do a DVD. Certainly that's attainable. The meal prep is going to really help this helpless feeling I've been having with the Celiac. Thanks so much for sharing your story!

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